ON THE SEA.

Taihape Daily Times, 14 August 1918, Page 5

ON THE SEA.

FRENCH TRANSPORT TORPEDOED. Received 10. 5 a.m. NEW YORK, Aug. 13. A French 3000-ton transport has been torpedoed in the Mediterranean. MERCHANTMAN SINKS U-BOAT. ‘ ' I Received 10. 5 a.m. ■ . NEW YORK, Aug. 13. A report from an American Atlantic port states that an incoming British merchantman claims she sunk a submarine off the coast after a brief battle. U-BOAT’S EXPLOIT ON U.S. COAST. MONTREAL, August 12. A U-boat mustard gassed a coast- ( guard station on the American coast Six of the coast, guards were overcome The Üboat poured oil on the surrnonding water, from which the gas arose. FURTHER PARTICULARS. WASHINGTON, August 12. The Navy Department has announced that oil was released by a U-boat near the entrance of the channel to Wilmington, Delaware in the hope that the tide would float it in towards the shore. Instead the oil was carried past Smith Island coast-guard station. Soon after the attack, three large oil spots, each an acre in extent, wmre observed. The effect of the gas on the victims lasted forty minutes. The effect was exactly similar to mustard gas. The Navy Department announced that it believed a destroyer sank a U-boat by means of depth bombs a hundred miles off the Virginia coast. BRITISH TORPEDO-BOAT SUNK. Received 11.45 a.m. NEW YORK, August 13. A British torpedo boat has been sunk in the Mediterranean. Seven of the tiew were lost. The Norwegian steamer Sommerstadt has been torpedoed. The crew were rescued. THE AMELAND FIGHT. Received 10 a.m. A M g T ER D A kl r^V'^usTw. German aeroplanes began a fight In Ameland, and a Zeppelin hurried to assist, but the latter was soon destroyed. The German aircraft warned German warships, and battleships and ten torpedoers appeared, but did not participate. It is believed only two m.-tor boats were sunk, and Dutch patrols rescued the crews. PERILS OF THE SEA. SYDNEY, August 12. ' The scow 1 Cathkit reports an excltlug sixty-thre clays ’ voyage from New | Zealand. She sailed on June lOtn 1 with a cargo of timber. Terrific | storms and gales were encountered. Huge seas continually swept the vessel, badly straining the ship and moving the cargo. The pumps were worked incessantly. At one time the vessel was right off her course 500 miles east of Norfolk Island. 'Another night, during a gale she struck a submerged object with terrific force. The crew were unable to ascertain the cause. Oil bags were used with good results. THE AEROPLANE MYSTERY. Wanganui is not yet satisfied fhat the flock of birds seen by some of its residents was not an aeroplane. The vision has been - seen by the people of Patea, en route to Wanganui, and the further the flight continues the more vivid becomes the description. Quite a number of people have seen the “aeroplane,” some not only on the . present occasion, but a fortnight ago; j on the latter occasion the visitation j being accompanied by a bright light I in the skjq moving in a manner suggesting the emanations from an aerial vehicle of some kind. To-day, we had a chat with Mr. R. T. Bailey, a wu 1 known resident of Wanganui, and his evidence pretty conclusively disposes of the aeroplane He says he was standing on | Dnrie Hill at a time when other spec--1 tutors saw the aerial visitor. Certainly he saw a sight in the sky which he took to be an aeroplane, the verL similitude being so remarkable as to deceive him, as the shape appeared to be exactly like one. He watched it for some minutes as it passed overhead, his opinion being almost confirmed as it passed over towards the mole. When it reached this spot the aerial visitor spread out and lost Its compact formation, eventually leaving no doubt in his mind that it was a flock of birds. Mr. Bailey says the resemblance to an aeroplane Avas so i great as to deceive a superficial obi server.